whitebait
/ˈwaɪtbeɪt/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈwaɪtbeɪt/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈ(h)wīt-ˌbāt How to pronounce whitebait (audio)/ (ame, mw)
whitebait — noun
1. tiny, underdeveloped fish of various species, covered in flour or batter and dee
tiny, underdeveloped fish of various species, covered in flour or batter and deep-fried until crisp, then eaten whole together with the head, bones, and tail
Minh ordered a plate of whitebait at the restaurant and squeezed lemon on top.
collocation: a plate of whitebait
The market stall sold fresh whitebait, so Charlotte bought some to fry at home.
Whitebait is often served with bread and butter and a pinch of salt on top.
Ignacio had never tried whitebait before, but the crunchy texture surprised him.
Caleb dusted the whitebait with seasoned flour before lowering them gently into the hot oil.
- fry
a more general biological term for newly-hatched fish of any species; less common on restaurant menus
文法句型
a serving / plate of whitebait
whitebait + verb (singular)
用法筆記
Whitebait is almost always referred to as a mass noun (no plural form). You say 'a portion of whitebait', not 'two whitebaits'. In British English it is closely associated with pub and seaside-town menus.
常見錯誤
2. the underdeveloped, small-sized young of herrings, sprats, and similar marine fi
the underdeveloped, small-sized young of herrings, sprats, and similar marine fish species, caught before they reach adult size and often used as food or bait
Biologists studying the sprat population noted that whitebait numbers dropped sharply that spring.
scientific register: whitebait numbers
The whitebait season on the south coast runs from late winter to early spring.
collocation: whitebait season
At that stage the fish are still whitebait, transparent and only a few weeks old.
Salma read a report on how climate change affects whitebait migration in the North Sea.
Whitebait from the Thames estuary was once a prized catch sold at London fish markets.
文法句型
the whitebait of [fish species]
用法筆記
This sense is more technical than sense 1. It refers specifically to the early life stage of herring and sprat species, not to the prepared dish. In fisheries biology, whitebait of different species are sometimes distinguished by size and season.
常見錯誤
3. any of various tiny fish from fresh or salt water that are prepared and eaten wh
any of various tiny fish from fresh or salt water that are prepared and eaten whole, often cooked in the same way as traditional European whitebait
In coastal parts of Asia, tiny fish like whitebait are dried and added to soups.
collocation: dried whitebait
Kemi tried whitebait at the Lagos market, where river fish fry in spicy oil.
The shop sells several kinds of whitebait, both from the sea and from lakes.
Tara sprinkled dried whitebait over her rice bowl and said it tasted like her grandmother's.
Whitebait from the Mekong region is sun-dried and sold in bundles at village markets.
文法句型
(as) whitebait
a type of whitebait
用法筆記
This is a broader sense than sense 1, covering any small fish — not just European herring or sprat — that are eaten whole. The fish may be from freshwater or saltwater and may be prepared by drying, frying, or salting depending on local cuisine.